Driving Data of Multiple Protocols Through a Single Set Of Pins

1. A driver device, comprising: a driver circuit to output data signals to a plurality of signal lines, the driver circuit switchable between a first communication mode in which the data signals conform to a first communication protocol, and a second communication mode in which the data signals conform to a second communication protocol different than the first communication protocol; a plurality of termination elements on the plurality of signal lines, the plurality of termination elements switched to an off-state when the driver is in the first communication mode and the plurality of termination elements switched to an on-state when the driver is in the second communication mode; a plurality of pads including a plurality of data signal pads coupled to respective ones of the plurality of data signal lines of the driver circuit; and a plurality of pins providing external connection points to the plurality of pads, the plurality of pins including at least one data signal pin coupled to a respective one or more of the plurality of data signal pads.

2. The driver device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pads is not connected to any of the plurality of pins.

3. The driver device of claim 1 , wherein the first communication protocol comprises a HDMI protocol and wherein the second communication protocol comprises a DisplayPort protocol.

4. The driver device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data signal pads comprise: a first differential pair of data signal pads to communicate a TMDS clock when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate a first channel of Display port data when operating in the second communication mode.

5. The driver device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data signal pads further comprise: a second differential pair of data signal pads to communicate a first channel of TMDS data when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate a second channel of Display port data when operating in the second communication mode; a third differential pair of data signal pads to communicate a second channel of TMDS data when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate a third channel of Display port data when operating in the second communication mode; a fourth differential pair of data signal pads to communicate a third channel of TMDS data when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate a fourth channel of Display port data when operating in the second communication mode.

6. The driver device of claim 1 , further comprising: a multiplexer to receive first communication mode control signals from a first set of a plurality of control buses and to receive second communication mode signals from a second set of the plurality of control buses, and to output the first communication mode control signals to output control buses when the driver circuit is in the first communication mode, and to output the second communication mode signals to the output control buses when the driver circuit is in the second communication mode; wherein the plurality of pads further comprise a plurality of control signal pads coupled to respective ones of the output control buses from the multiplexer; and wherein the plurality of pins further comprise a plurality of control signal pins coupled to corresponding ones of the plurality of control signal pads.

7. The driver device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of control signal pads further comprise: a first control signal pad to communicate CEC data when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate first configuration data when operating in the second communication mode; a second control signal pad to communicate SCL data when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate the first configuration data when operating in the second communication mode; a third control signal pad to communicate SDA data when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate second configuration data when operating in the second communication mode; a fourth control signal pad to communicate HEC data when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate auxiliary channel data when operating in the second communication mode; a fifth control signal pad to communicate HPD data when operating in the first communication mode and to communicate hot plug data when operating in the second communication mode.

8. The driver device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pads further comprise: a plurality of power pads including a power pad and a ground pad.

9. The driver device of claim 1 , wherein the driver circuit is further switchable to a third communication mode in which the data signals conform to a third communication protocol.

10. The driver device of claim 9 , wherein the first communication protocol comprises an HDMI protocol, the second communication protocol comprises a DisplayPort protocol, and the third communication protocol comprises an MHL protocol.

11. The driver of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pads comprises at least one control signal pad utilized only in the third communication mode and not utilized in the first or second communication modes.

12. The driver device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one control signal pad utilized only when operating in the third communication mode is not connected to any of the plurality of pins of the package.

13. The driver device of claim 9 , wherein a first pair of differential pads of the plurality of data signal pads are coupled to a first corresponding pair of the at least one data signal pin, the first pair of differential pads providing a first differential data signal, wherein a single control signal pad is coupled to a corresponding control signal pin of the plurality of pins, and wherein remaining ones of the plurality of data signal pads and control signal pads are unconnected to respective ones of the plurality of pins.